Linked Libraries¶

These functions help you reuse materials, objects and other data-blocks loaded from an external source blend-file. You can build libraries of common content and share them across multiple referencing files.

Append and Link¶

Reference

Mode:     All Modes
Menu:     File ‣ Append or Link
Hotkey:   Shift-F1 or Ctrl-Alt-O

Link creates a reference to the data in the source file such that changes made there will be reflected in the referencing file the next time it is reloaded.

Whereas Append makes a full copy of the data into your blend. You can make further edits to your local copy of the data, but changes in the external source file will not be reflected in the referencing file.

In the File Browser navigate to the external source blend-file and select the data-block you want to reuse.

Options¶

Relative Path: Available only when linking, see relative paths.
Select: Makes the object Active after it is loaded.
Active Layer: The object will be assigned to the visible layers in your scene. Otherwise, it is assigned to the same layers it resides on in the source file.
Instance Groups: This option links the Group to an object, adding it to the active scene.
Fake User: Sets a Fake User for the append items.
Localize All: ToDo.

When you select an Object type, it will be placed in your scene at the cursor. Many other data types, cameras, curves, and materials for example, must be linked to an object before they become visible.

Newly added Group types are available in Add ‣ Group Instances in 3D View, or for NodeTree groups, the same menu in the Node Editor.

Look in the Outliner, with display mode set to blend-file, to see all your linked and appended data-blocks. Ctrl-LMB on a file name allows you to redirect a link to another file.

Proxy Objects¶

Reference

Mode:     Object Mode
Menu:     Object ‣ Make Proxy...
Hotkey:   Ctrl-Alt-P

Lets you make changes locally over an object (or group) linked from an external library. Some types of changes remain restricted, but others can be made locally, depending on the type of object. Those changes are not sent to the external library. Ctrl-Alt-P makes the active linked object into a local proxy, appending “_proxy” to its name.

Used with rigged models, proxy objects, allow specified bone layers to be linked back to the source file while the remainder of the object and its skeleton are edited locally. Set the Protected Layers in the source file using the Skeleton panel of the Armatures tab. See Armature Layers. The bones in protected layers will have their position restored from the source file when the referencing file is reloaded.

Make Link¶

Reference

Mode:     Object Mode
Menu:     Object ‣ Make Link...
Hotkey:   Ctrl-L

Links objects between scenes or data-blocks of the active object to all selected objects. In some case (i.e. Object Data, Modifier) the target objects must be of the same type than the active one or capable of receiving the data. The existing data-block of which will be unlinked from them.

Objects to Scene...

Lets you create links to the selected objects into a different scene than the current one. A scene name must be chosen other than that of the current one. The Link Objects to Scene Operator panel lets you choose between scenes.

This makes the same object exist in two different scenes at once, including its position and animation data. The object’s origin will change its color.

Type

Data-block type to link.

Object Data, Materials, Animation Data, Group, DupliGroup, Modifiers, Fonts

Transfer UV Maps: The active UV map of the selected objects will be replaced by a copy of the active UV map of the active object. If the selected object doesn’t have any UV maps, it is created. Objects must be of type mesh and must have the same number of faces (matching geometry).

Make Local¶

Reference

Mode:     Object Mode
Menu:     Object ‣ Make Local...
Hotkey:   L

Makes the selected or all external objects local in the current blend-file. This makes e.g. the position editable, because its position is defined in its source file.

Type

Optionally unlinks the objects Object Data and Material Data.

Selected Objects, + Object Data, + Materials, All (i.e. including all scenes)

Note

Appending data you already have linked will add objects/groups to the scene, but will keep them linked (and un-editable).

This is done so existing relationships with linked data remain intact.

Hint

Another way to transform a object locally is with the use of Dupli-Groups. Instead of linking to Objects directly, it is often more useful to link in Groups, which can be assigned to empties and moved, while maintaining the link to the original file.

It is also useful to be able to add/remove objects from the group without having to manage linking in multiple objects.

Known Limitations¶

For the most part linking data will work as expected, however, there are some corner-cases which are not supported.

Circular Dependencies¶

In general, dependencies should not go in both directions.

Attempting to link or append data which links back to the current file will likely result in missing links.

Object Rigid-Body Constraints¶

When linking objects directly into a blend-file, the Rigid Body settings will not be linked in since they are associated with their scene’s world.

As an alternative, you could link in the entire scene and set it as a Background Set.